> In the late 19th century, which contraption was first known as a"penny-farthing?"And the answer is: the bicycle.A man riding a penny-farthingAlso known as a high wheeler, the penny-farthingwas the first machine to be called a "bicycle." Popular in the 1870s and 1880s,it had a large front wheel, where the rider sat, and a much smaller back wheel.It got its name from the British penny and farthing coins, with the former beingmuch larger than the latter.In 1817, German engineer Karl von Drais began to pave the way for the modern-daybicycle. His 50-pound wooden prototype could steer, but lacked a chain, pedalsor even brakes. Instead, riders propelled themselves forward by pushing off theground (and hoping for the best). Two prototypes of the modern-day bicycleSoon after Drais' short-lived yetsensationalized invention (referred to as either "velocipede," "hobby-horse,""draisine" or "running machine"), several different French inventors developedprototypes with pedals attached to the front wheel. These so-called"penny-farthings" introduced the ability to self-propel, and were the firstmachines to be called "bicycles," though they were also known as "boneshakers"for their rough ride.A race featuring bone-shakersIt wasn't until 1884 that Englishman John KempStarley perfected a “safety bicycle” design that featured equal-sized wheels anda chain. The world quickly became infatuated with the freedom of the bicycle. Anenthusiastic New York Times article referred to the invention as "a splendidextension of personal power and freedom, scarcely inferior to what wings wouldgive."Check out the video below to see these early bicycles in action.